Summary
Mature ovaries that protect seeds and help disperse them.
In depth
Fruits develop from the ovary wall after fertilisation. Types: fleshy (berries, drupes) and dry (nuts, pods). Hormones such as auxin and gibberellin regulate development; ethylene triggers ripening.
Fruit tissues derive from the ovary wall (pericarp), with exocarp, mesocarp and endocarp. Accessory fruits such as apples include other flower parts. Ripening involves cell wall softening, sugar rise and colour change.
Example: ethylene gas from ripe bananas speeds ripening of nearby fruit.
Fruit protects seeds and helps dispersal. True fruits come from the ovary only, and accessory (false) fruits include other tissues, such as the receptacle in strawberry and apple. Simple fruits come from one ovary, aggregate fruits from many carpels in one flower (raspberry) and multiple fruits from many flowers (pineapple, fig). Parthenocarpic fruits form without fertilisation, like seedless bananas.
Ripening involves ethylene, which triggers softening, colour change and sugar increase, and climacteric fruits such as bananas and tomatoes ripen after harvest, which is why one rotten fruit can speed ripening in a bowl. Fruit is stored in low oxygen and controlled temperature. Botanically, tomatoes, cucumbers and peppers are fruits.
Example: gibberellin sprays enlarge seedless grapes.
Frequently asked questions
What is Fruits?
Mature ovaries that protect seeds and help disperse them.
Which area of biology covers Fruits, and how advanced is it?
Fruits is one of the 56 topics in Plant Biology. It is rated Beginner, so it suits learners who are starting out in biology. Related topics in this area include Plant Hormones, Seed Dispersal, Plant Kingdom.
Can you give an example of Fruits?
A tomato is botanically a fruit.
What should I learn before Fruits?
Fruits is a Beginner topic, so no earlier topic is required. Other Beginner topics in Plant Biology that pair well with it include Plant Kingdom, Photosynthesis, Chlorophyll.
What topics are related to Fruits?
The closest topics to Fruits are Plant Hormones, Seed Dispersal, Plant Kingdom, Germination. Comparing them side by side is a good way to see how the ideas connect.
How can I check that I understand Fruits?
Read the summary and the in-depth section, then use the quick check on the interactive lesson for Fruits. To practise the whole of Plant Biology, use the Plant Biology quiz.
How is Fruits different from Plant Hormones?
Fruits: Mature ovaries that protect seeds and help disperse them. Plant Hormones: Auxin, gibberellin, cytokinin, abscisic acid and ethylene regulate growth, development and responses. Read both side by side and note what each one explains.
How should I study Fruits step by step?
First, read the summary and write the definition in your own words. Second, read the in-depth section and note any example. Third, compare it with Plant Hormones and explain the difference aloud. Finally, take the Plant Biology quiz and come back to this page for any question you miss.